Analysis machine



June 27, 1967 Filed June 17, 1965 o. G. H. JUNGNER ETAL. 3,327,833

ANALYS I S MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1967 o. G. H. JUNGNl-:RETAL 3,327,833

ANALYSI S MACHINE Filed June 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORS M! GurmrH J'vnsnwam, :Bmg @v 5w M51 @ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 o. G. H. JUNGNERETAL ANALYS IS MACHINE 5 sheets-Sheet s Filed June 17, 1965 INVENTORSMami Olav Gunnar lig; 5 m w sia ATTORNEY o. G. H. -JUNGNER ETAL3,327,833

June 27, 1967V ANALYS I S MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 17, 1965INVENToRs ner Amb h5/cr ATTORNEY Ofv @mmf 05 jung Se @ma 5W `)une 27,1967 O. G. H. JUNGNER ETAL ANALYS I S MACHINE Filed June 1'?, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,327,833 ANALYSIS MACHENE OiovA(iluminar Hugo langues, Bovas, and Bengt Gsta lngmar Jungner,Stocksund, Sweden, assignors to Aktiebolaget Autokemi, Stockholm,Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed .lune 17, 1965, Ser. No. 464,731Claims priority, application Sweden, Dec. 30, 1964, 15,899/64 3 Claims.(Cl. 2198-19) This invention relates to an analysis machine in whichtest tubes or reaction tubes are in mutually spaced relation conveyed byan endless transporter between different stations where differentmeasures are taken with the contents in the tubes. These are preferablycollected in groups which are held in racks. The analysis machine isprimarily intended for hospital use, even if it is not limited to thisiield of application. An important field of use is the conduction ofmass analysis of, for example, blood in health care where it isimportant to obtain a large number of test results in the shortest timeand with a Iminimum of manual labor. It is in this manner possible todiscover and locate disease by performing very large series of testanalyses, which presupposes that the individual analyses can beaccomplished in rapid succession. Mass analysis is especially valuablewhen performing so called chemical health control.

One main object of the invention is to provide an analysis machine thatcombines high capacity with compact structure, high reliability andextreme work reduction by automatically carrying out test series of Verydifferent types. An essential feature of the invention is that at leastone of the transporters is arranged lso as to allow spacing between thetubes at at least one station to be reduced thereby reducing the speedand prolonging the time spent at the station in consideration. Anotherimportant feature is the transporter arranged to convey the test tubesat least substantially horizontally at `stations located at differentlevels. Each transporter consists preferably of two endless long,bendable conveying elements located at a predetermined distance from oneother and equipped with holders for the racks in which the test tubesare held.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form part of this specification and ofwhich:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an analysis machine constructedaccording to the invention with some parts removed in favor ofclearness.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are perspective views in an enlarged scale of portions ofthe machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a test tube rack repre* sented also in alarger scale.

In the different figures, all the same reference numerals have been usedfor same or similar parts.

The embodiment shown in the drawings has three transporter groups,denoted respectively A, B and C, which are mutually identical. Themachine in consideration has also a fourth transporter, D, operating ina less complicated manner. Each transporter consists of two endlesstransmission elements which are made up of jointed links and may havethe form of chains 10, 12 laid about sprockets and driven by means ofdrive motors (not shown). Chains 10, 12 are spaced from one another by adistance corresponding to the length of a test tube rack 14 which holdsa number, for example six, test tubes or reaction tubes 16. The testtube racks 14 are, at their head ends, provided with collars 18 whichfit on pins 20 provided in spaced relationship on the chains. The racks114 will therefore be conveyed by the chain-pair, hanging from the topof each side.

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The terms test tube and reaction tube used in this specication refer toany small container suitable for storing a small amount of the material,primarily fluid, that is to be examined in the machine. The tube neednot necessarily have, for example, a circular cross-section.

The chains 10, 12 pertaining to each of the t-hree transporters A, B andC, are movable both horizontally and vertically. From sprocket 22 thechains extend downward to sprocket 24. The chains and the racks .14 heldby the chains then pass a horizontal station 26 at which the samples aresubjected to a temperature change, either heating or cooling. The chainsand racks 14 then pass around sprockets 28, 30 and upwards with aninclination and, after having passed a horizontal station 32 aroundsprockets 34, 36 to an even higher level with a horizontal station 38.The chains are then routed straight downward around two sprockets 40, 42and continue along a horizontal station 44. Thereafter, the chains passaround sprocket 46 upwards to the aforementioned sprockets 22.

The chains are driven continually and at a constant speed. The inventionaccomplishes nevertheless a considerably prolonged interval at station26, where the temperature change takes place, which will hereinafter beassumed to be heating. When the two chains 10, 12 pertaining to atransporter A, B or C have passed the wheels 24 at the entrance tostation or zone 26 the pins 210 will rest against horizontal guidingedges 48, |49 that run horizontally along the length of the zone. Theracks 14 will thereby be supported on these guiding edges, while thechain portions between the pins will inoperatively hang down in loops,which may be housed in a Ushaped compartment 50 which for-ms the guidingedges 48, 49. A straight edge 52 is arranged above the chains, wherebythe pins 20 are vertically locked between the guiding edges 48, 49 andsaid straight edge. Station 26 is also equipped with a long basin withheated fluid 53 for each transporter A, B and C into which the testtubes are submerged. Sprocket 24 feeds the folded chain-s at station 26by forcing the links between the guiding edges 43, 49 and the straightedge 52.

Due to the arrangement described above, the racks 14 and test tubes 16will, during the interval at the heating station 26, be packed closelyagainst one another. The treating time at station 26 is prolonged to therequired time by disengaging the chains. A long treating time is, inthis manner, obtained in a small basin for the large number of samplesthat at the same time pass through the machine. The three basinspertaining to the three transporters A, B and C may each have adifferent temperature.

At the other end of station 26, the chains 10, 12 are again stretchedand the racks 14 move at an incline upwards on the sloping portion ofthe transport track, between the ysprockets 28, 30. Thereafter thesamples pass at full speed through station 32 where, for example,reactants may be added to the heated samples. The racks are then movedto an even higher level and at station 38 a further action is taken withthe contents in the test tubes as, for example, allowing time for thepreviously added reactants to react. At zone 44, which the racks 14 passwhen they have been lowered to a slightly lower level after zone 38, atreatment-step is performed that can be the removal of the sample fiuidsfor inspection in a measuring instrument and, if desired, washing of thetest tubes. The equipment required for this treatment is not shown.After the racks have passed the sprockets 46 they are moved straightvertically towards the sprockets 22 where new sample iluids are put intothe tubes.

The machine is also equipped with two transporters in the form ofendless belts. On such a belt 54 (FIGS. 1

and 2) laid around roller 57, are placed racks 14 with test tubescontaining new samples. These are moved by belt S4, in the directionindicated by the arrow 55, to a transverse belt 56, which is laid aroundrollers S3 so that it runs at right angles to belt Se and past the threetransporters A, B and C. The transfer of the racks is automatic by meansof mechanism 59 consisting of two arms 611 (FIG. 2) which are at one endsupported by rotatable shafts 62. The arms 60 have at the other end pins64 which are formed `so as to t under the collars 1S of the racks sothat one rack at the time is picked up by the arms 611 and placed on thebelt 56. One shaft 61 is equipped with arms 63 having projections 65 toprevent the racks 14 from falling off the belt 54.

Band 56 moves the racks 14, placed in a row after one another, in stepspast the transport tracks A, B and C. The contents in each test tube aretransferred in small quantities to the tubes moving on transporters A, Band C by means of equipment not shown. Since each rack 14 carries sixtest tubes the three transporters have together 18 test tubes. Themovement of belt 56 and the three transporters can be synchronized ysothat the contents in each test tube on belt 56 can be transferred to 18test tubes on the transporters A, B and C. These 18 smaller samples arehereby distributed to one tube in each of the 18 test tracks whichduring the stepwise advancement of belt 56 are placed opposite one andthe same test tube on this belt. It will be understood from the above,that a very large number of analytical procedures can simultaneously beperformed on a small quantity of sample uid which may consist of blood,blood serum, urine, cerebral-spinal fluid or extracts.

The machine can be equipped with additional belts 68 and 70,respectively for the conveyance of racks 14. These belts here serve tosupply starting or result samples which are distributed into test tubesin racks 14 advanced by belt D. The transporter D serves for analyses orexaminations of a less complicated nature, where, for example, notemperature change in the contents of the test tubes is required. Frombelt 68 the test racks are moved to a transverse belt 72, which may inlikeness with band56, be advanced in steps, whereby the contents in eachtest tube are distributed to a number of test tubes in one or more rackson transporter D. The transfer to and from the transverse belt 72 may beaccomplished with a mechanism 74 of the same type as the mechanism 59.

The test tube racks are, in the normal manner, provided with threeshelves 76, 77 and '7S (FIG. 5) of which 76 and 77 have holes 79, 80 forthe test tubes 16, While the bottom shelf 7S serves to support thetubes. The three shelves are on each side provided with vprotrusions 81,82 that fit into recesses 83, 84 on au adjacent rack. This results inthat the racks support each other, when they are packed closely lto oneanother as in heat zone 26 or when they are on the belts. Since thebottom shelf 76 at d the same time forms a support for the rack, itsprotrusions 81, 82 help the rack to stand more steadily.

The invention .allows a large number of investigations to be performedon one and the same test sample which, consequently, makes the machineideally suited for different types of mass analyses. Since thetransporters A, B and C allow, despite continuous movement, aconsiderably p-rolonged treatment time where required a-s, for example,at station 26, the machine is compact in its structure despite theconsiderable quantity analyses that it is capable of performing in eachwork tempo.

The basic idea of the invention can be applied in the technicalindustries and anywhere a need for a large number of analyses isrequired for production. The machine can also be used to combat healthrisks by, for example, systematic control of water and air pollution,etc.

While one more or less specific embodiment of the invention hasbeenshown and described, it is to be understood that this is for purposeof illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limitedthereby but its scope is to be determined by the appended claims.

What we claimV is:

1. In an analysis machine of the class described a plurality of tuberacks, conveyor means for transporting the tube racks through aplu-rality of stations, a container at one of said stations, gniidemeans on said container, said conveyor means comprising at least onepair of chains having pairs of pins spaced along the length thereof,said pins supporting the tube racks, the tube racks being suspendedwithin the container in side by side relation with said pins supportedon the guide means of said container, the chains between the pins beingfolded when the tube racks are suspended Within the container, and thechains being extended with the tube -racks in spaced relation along theconveyor path outside of the container.

2. In an analysis machine according to claim 1, wherein said guide meanscomprise a pair of spaced inner and outer supporting surfaces on eachside of the container, the pins on said conveyor means extendingoutwardly of each side of the chains and adapted to engage thesupporting surfaces. p

3. In an analysis machine according to claim 2, wherein the container isilled with a liquid for treating tubes held in the tube racks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re 15,967 12/1924 Sebring 198-192,550,716 5/1951 Parkes. 2,534,054 12/1950 Parkes 198-19 X FOREIGNPATENTS 965,96() 6/ 1957 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

M. L. AIEMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN ANALYSIS MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED A PLURALITY OF TUBERACKS, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING THE TUBE RACKS THROUGH APLURALITY OF STATIONS, A CONTAINER, SAID ONE OF SAID STATIONS, GUIDEMEANS ON SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONEPAIR OF CHAINS HAVING PAIRS OF PINS SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF,SAID PINS SUPPORTING THE TUBE RACKS, THE TUBE RACKS BEING SUSPENDEDWITHIN THE CONTAINER IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH SAID PINS SUPPORTEDON THE GUIDE MEANS OF SAID CONTAINER, THE CHAINS BETWEEN THE PINS BEINGFOLDED WHEN THE TUBE RACKS ARE SUSPENDED WITHIN THE CONTAINER, AND THECHAINS BEING EXTENDED WITH THE TUBE RACKS IN SPACED RELATION ALONG THECONVEYOR PATH OUTSIDE OF THE CONTAINER.